Flying On A Hot Air Balloon In Australia

What do you think of when you hear the word “Hot Air Balloon”?

Me? I think of a proposal in the sky. Okay, so I am a little of a hopeless romantic (or my friends would probably say that I am too much of a hopeless romantic) but I think flying up in the sky in a hot air balloon, overlooking the world (or a small part, thereof) is a beautiful thing. Doing it with your partner or spouse would be perfect, but since I have no one at the moment, doing it with your crazy best friend is perfect too. So this was my experience on the hot air balloon in Australia.

Of course, the more popular hot air balloon ride would be in Cappadocia or Norway but going on a hot air balloon ride in Australia is not so bad either. Especially when the weather was perfect, the wind was perfect and the hot air balloon pilot was more than perfect.

How to choose the best Hot Air Balloon Ride

My hot air balloon ride in Gold Coast, Australia was only paid for half. This is because my friend won an apartment stay which included a 30-minute ride of hot air balloon that we then extended to a 1-hour ride. Our hot air balloon ride included champagne for two but we turned that down, hence, we only had to pay AUD60 (original price per ride is AUD279) and we were assigned to BalloonAloft.

There are however, many other hot air balloon companies in Australia and some attached to the places you stay at. Just ask for the packages available at your hotel or hostel or apartments that you live in.

Time for us to fly

Our take off time is by dawn so that we can catch the first sunrise. Which means, we have to wake up at 4am where our ride will take us to our designated location. The location was not too far from Surfer’s Paradise where we stayed, it was about 20 minutes ride by van. We were picked up by the guys from BalloonAloft along with other passengers for that morning’s flight. There were 22 people riding the balloon that day – including the pilot.

Hot Air Balloon Australia

The balloon was filled with cool air at first and when it’s half inflated, the hot air was used to further inflate it. Our pilot and his helper told us when we needed to climb in to the basket (when the balloon is 3/4 inflated) and what we have to do when the balloon is going to land.

It was a beautiful sunrise, I can tell you that. We got to as high as 6,000+ feet following the North Wind. I’m not sure where we went exactly, since we depended on the wind but we did fly above some pretty greeneries, some expensive houses, marshes and also a golf course. We were looking for crocs at the swamps but didn’t see any. Maybe the crocs are not out yet since it was still very early in the morning.

Hot Air Balloon Australia

Hot Air Balloon Australia

Hot Air Balloon Australia

Hot Air Balloon Australia

The scene however, when the sun started to rise, was the most beautiful thing you could ever see. It was especially perfect because the sun rose from where the sea is at and we can see the Skypoint, or the Q1 tower in the distant from where we were flying. The Skypoint was just about 15 minutes walk from where I stayed at Surfer’s Paradise.

The blue sky streaked with the color orange, yellow and light red that morning. The wind was kind to us, not too strong and not too slow. It was breezy and a perfect setting for love in the air.

After flying for a little more than an hour, we started descending to our landing spot. Our pilot was a very funny guy although not many caught up with his humor – probably because half of the people in the basket are tourists. He once again explained to us what to do when we’re going to get close to land, which is to lean on to the opposite side of the basket so that it will not tip over and to hold on tight, in case it does tip over.

The landing however, was a clean one, something I’ve experienced before from another hot air balloon pilot from Belgium from when I took my first hot air balloon ride at the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Festival. A clean landing depends fully on how good your hot air balloon pilot is.

Hot Air Balloon Australia

Hot Air Balloon Australia

Other extras from BalloonAloft

There are a few packages offered by BalloonAloft, like the champagne fly that I mentioned earlier. There are also packages for photos and videos. All of us in that ride opted for the photo package which we had to pay AUD20 for. If you come in groups and would like to purchase the photos taken during that ride, then you only have to pay AUS20. The photos was sent to us via email.

Each person was also given a free certificate by BalloonAloft to show that we have flown up in the air in a hot air balloon. Such a sweet token, right?

So, would I ride a hot air balloon again?

Definitely. I love hot air balloons and maybe I would go for the one in Cappadocia, Turkey next. It is an experience and a view you will never be able to forget in your lifetime.

——

Hot Air Balloon Ride with BalloonAloft

Bookings and enquires
02 4990 9242
(Monday – Friday 9.00am-5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am-1.00pm)

Overseas callers
+61 2 4990 9242

Email
balloons@balloonaloft.com

Postal Address
Balloon Aloft
PO Box 62
CESSNOCK NSW 2325

Website : http://www.balloonaloft.com

Written by 

LizzaBella is a part-time traveler, amateur photographer and videographer and writer. Connect with LizzaBella through her social medias today!

44 thoughts on “Flying On A Hot Air Balloon In Australia

  1. wow such a nice experienced for that. I never try before not even in Malaysia, my dear is scare.

    1. Yes, it was a wonderful experience. Oh, I do hope you would be able to try at least once in your life because it is an undescribable feeling.

  2. I went to the Yarra Valley hot air balloon ride during my first media trip with Tourism Victoria. On my second trip, the weather didn’t permit us to fly but this is always the best experience in Australia!

    1. Yarra Valley? Oh my, that must be a breathtaking view. Did you fly over the river and the vineyard? Hope I could go to Victoria too, someday! 🙂

  3. This is something I want to do. However, I’ve read too many stories about hot air balloons going up in flames like those in Turkey. Perhaps it is safer in Australia? What’s your take on this?

    1. In my opinion, accidents happen everywhere and in any situations but to minimize possibility of accidents, the tour operator must adhere to safety precautions and rules. Sometimes it’s based on luck too but don’t let one or two bad news stop you from enjoying life, Emily.

      Best way is to do some homework, browse around for companies with good feedback from past customers and just pray for a good and memorable flight. 😉

  4. Wow it is so so nice to have this kind of amazing experience! Hope can get a try next time 😀

  5. Such a beautiful and memorable experience I would say. Though I’m kinda scared of high, but by this post it just make me to experience it at least once. Plus it’s offered in the package of your hotel stay, it’s what make it even better. Thanks for this! 😀

    1. Yes, I think because it was part of the package, it was cheaper and everything was smoother so my friend and I didn’t have to scout around for packages and go through all that fuss. And it was a beautiful experience.

  6. That is the biggest hot air ballon basket I’ve ever seen! Looks so fun and scary at the same time as I a terrified of heights I think I will have jelly legs up there

    1. Hahaha!!
      Actually this isn’t the biggest basket though. There are bigger baskets that can hold more passengers at one time. I’ve seen some in Belgium with bigger baskets and bigger balloon.

      Yes, it could be slightly scary when the balloon is going up especially if the wind is strong but once up there, you would forget everything and just enjoy the view.

  7. wow thats alot of you in the hot air balloon! i wont mind paying more for that awesome experience there

    1. Yeah, it is quite packed in the basket. However, a more private and personal flight would probably be more expensive.

  8. Ah true indeed. I will think of proposal in the sky too! But am afraid of heights though haha. Glad you had a good time there and hope you can ride one more time at Cappadocia! 🙂

    1. Oh yes, I’m praying for more money this year so I can go to Istanbul and fly that hot air balloon in Cappadocia. Haha!! 😛

  9. What an experience! Sunrise is always something worth chasing for, what more on a hot air balloon!

    1. I couldn’t agree more. Both I love equally so this was a very memorable experience for me.

  10. WAH! look best. Only hot air baloon experience I got on is in Putrajaya. 🙁

    1. I have experienced the one in Putrajaya too. My pilot, Filip Audenaert was from Belgium. He brought us up to 750ft and as low as about 6 inches above Putrajaya Lake. That was an experience in itself too. Maybe he didn’t go as high as this one in Australia but the view of Putrajaya in the morning up in the sky was just superb.

  11. I never ride at a hot balloon before. Is it scary ? Going to try it soon this Sunday.

    1. I’m not afraid of heights so I don’t find it scary at all. In fact, I think it is amazing to see everything from a different perspective – above.

  12. Betty Liew says:

    The view from the hot balloon is nice. i love it. Reasonable to price to ride for the hot balloon in Australia

    1. Yes, I agree. Plus, the flight was quite long so I find the price to be reasonable.

  13. OMGGGG Looks so fun on the air! The Hot Air Balloon is such a huge want! I hope that I could have the chance to be up on the air too =D

  14. that’s so fun i definitely always wish to get on a hot air balloon and this one is so large, can accomodate so many people.

    1. This is not the largest basket though, there are larger balloon and basket that can accommodate more people. However, the fun part I concur. Haha.. 😛

  15. I wish to take Hot Air Ballon too! I wish I can take it in one day no matter in Australia or other place.

    1. I hope your wish will come true. Places like Cappadocia is definitely beautiful but New Zealand, France and Belgium have hot air balloon rides overlooking gorgeous landscapes too.

  16. That’s so cool, always wanted to ride one but the annual one is only in putrajaya and the queue is insane 🙁

    1. Yes, tethered ride at Putrajaya is crazy and tickets are sold out so quick. I don’t find the fun in tethered rides because there’s no nice scenery but free rides on the other hand, those are great.

  17. Wow so happening. I never try hot air balloon in Aussie before, I tried a few times in Malaysia.

    1. Ahh Kelly, you always travel overseas too, you should try one of the hot air balloon rides with beautiful sceneries. I bet you’ll love it. Sunrise rides are the best.

  18. Such a nice experience, I always dream to get into hot air balloon at lease once in my lifetime 🙂

  19. What an exciting experience… I have yet to go on a hot air balloon and hope to get an opportunity soon….

    1. I hope you would be able to ride one soon. The Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is coming soon. Maybe you could try it there?

  20. So nice. I have only been privileged enough to ride tethered ones in Putrajaya.

  21. Bestnya. Nice place to visit someday. Naik hot air balloon pun seronok bestnya your pengalaman !

    1. Thank you dear. Doa2 ada rezeki lebih untuk experience more beautiful and amazing things that God created in this world. 🙂

  22. best la your experiences. My closest to a hot air balloon was at our very own putrajaya.

    1. Did you ride the balloon at Putrajaya though? The fiesta at Putrajaya is always packed to the brim. So many people!

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